Oct
08

Taken 2

It seems as though sequels always have the daunting task of  being better than the original films they are based on. This is a fair expectation to have given that if you loved the original, wouldn’t you want to see more? What is difficult to do however, is to provide the same magic that made the first one great, but still make it better. As a director, you want to include as many great characteristics from the original as possible, however you do not want to have just a very slight difference. A sequel should have the ability to be great independently from the original. It is in that sense that you realize just how critical audiences are as well. We all want to be entertained, but when it comes to sequels, in a very particular way. One of the things that is exciting about a sequel, at least from a directing standpoint, is creativity. After watching the success of the first film, you can use your creativity to make the second one great. Of course, you do not want to overload the sequel with much more of everything, but there should be a lot of room to work with and be creative. Not sure about you, but when I learned about the sequel I was surprised. Notice there are some sequels that pleasantly surprise audiences. Others however, simply do not. This film is one of those rare instances where the fans get more of what they want.

Liam Neeson has already continued to prove this year that he is a blockbuster star. Fans will come out to see his films because his performances alone make them very entertaining. Perhaps the quality of the films may be questionable by critics, but more importantly, they entertain audiences. As a director, now that you know that you have the great cast from the original to work with, the big question becomes how will I make Taken 2 great? Something that really makes this series standout is the action. It is difficult to improve on the action of an original film, however you know that with this series, the action will speak for itself. That gives the director more time to work on other areas of the film, such as character development for instance, to make it better. The beauty of the main cast is that not only do they deliver great performances, but it is a very small cast. Audiences enjoy a small cast because it makes it a lot easier to answer their own questions; if they have any throughout the film. They become familiar with the characters, and perhaps, see themselves in those characters. This allows for much great character development in this film than in the original Taken movie.

Character development is easily one of the most overlooked characteristics of a film. Whether the cast is big or small, each character has a vital role in bringing the story to life on screen. They say that the more you watch a film, the more you take from it. This statement is particularly true about the film’s characters. Their performances have a way of speaking directly to you. If you did not get the message the first time, chances are that you will get the message the second or third time that you watch the film. Due to the circumstances and story in the first film of this series, there is really very little to learn about the characters. Everyone knows how Liam Neeson’s character fits into the film, but what is more interesting is to learn more about the lives of his daughter and his ex-wife this time around. There is always something that you can learn from someone when you have a great conversation with them. The way it works in a movie is simple. Directors focus more of their attention on getting other characters more involved in the story; and this is wonderful when it is done in a sequel. Perhaps you thought you knew them in the first movie, but now, you have the opportunity to get to know them even better.

This series would not be possible without the villains that get beaten and blown away by Liam Neeson. What worked well in the first film is that we got to see the danger of having young girls kidnapped, and made prostitutes by a gang of human traffickers. Obviously you never want to cheer for the villains in a film, but for the sake of entertainment, you like to see a good villain that challenges the hero. They were villains that we could not wait to see get defeated. These were villains that had an agenda; they had specific duties that they wanted to fulfill. Now, when you have villains that strictly act out of the hunger for revenge, it is not quite as entertaining. Mainly because the important thing is to seek justice; not revenge for crimes that have been committed. In terms of the film however, you know that a character will not get very far for acting out of revenge. That makes things very predictable for the audience. This is where the emphasis must be placed on the quality of acting of the villain. It is not enough to simply be against the protagonist. Villains have the ability to add to the suspense and unpredictability of a movie, so it is best when they deliver a strong performance that matches their evil intentions to bring the protagonist down.

It should not be news to say that critics have not been very supportive of this sequel to the original film that was released in 2008. It may not have the same wit and fire power of the original, but it is still a film that is entertaining to watch. At the end of the day, that is what matters most to the audience. Perhaps the first question that you ask is: is it worth watching in theaters? Well the answer to that question is yes. Which also means that you can enjoy this film when you watch it as a rental. As usual, Liam Neeson delivers the strong performance that we have come to love and expect from him. He has had a great year, so it is exciting to think about what he will do next year. Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace are the two ladies that really steal the show as they both give a much stronger performance in this sequel. While this may not be a trilogy, it has certainly be fun to see these two films on the big screen. You can only hope that there will be more films like this in the years to come.

Jul
17

Batman Begins

There are only four men who can say that they have played the role of Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego, Batman, in film: Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Christian Bale. It was Tim Burton who directed the original film, Batman, in 1989, and the sequel, Batman Returns in 1992. Michael Keaton was the first actor to be Batman, and left us with a very lasting impression of him after the first two films. You would think that studio executives would have at least wanted a trilogy to take place with Burton and Keaton on board. However, to produce a trilogy for a super hero did not seem very likely back then. This is when the transition started for the Batman franchise. In the first two films under Burton’s direction, as an audience we felt close to Bruce and Batman, and we came to love Gotham City. Burton established the dark and tragic history of young Bruce Wayne’s life, and established the dark and appropriate tone in both films that he worked on. There was as much dedication to action, as there was to the development of characters, and to really sharing Bruce’s story as a man, and as Gotham City’s caped-crusader.

Then, out of the shadows came the next two films in the Batman franchise which were directed by Joel Schumacher, Batman Forever (1995) and Batman & Robin (1997). Obviously, when you have a different cast, a different director, and even more obvious, different actors who play the role of Batman, the films will be different in many ways. However, these films had a completely different look than the previous two by Burton. Perhaps the most revealing change was the presence of humor in the films. This is not to say that a little humor is not fit for a Batman film. Outside of the intense action, humor is what has helped many recent comic book film adaptations to be successful. But when you think about Bruce Wayne as a character, and Batman as his alter-ego, there is nothing comedic or humorous about his story. It is a very dark, and tragic history that started being told by Burton in 1992. Furthermore, it becomes more difficult to appreciate what Schumacher was trying to achieve with the films that he directed. Of course, any hero’s story is open to many different interpretations in terms of directing.

Enter critically-acclaimed director Christopher Nolan. Arguably one of the best directors in film, he had already directed the dramatic thrillers Memento (2000) and Insomnia (2002) before his journey to direct a trilogy for Gotham’s dark knight. It had been eight years since audiences and theaters had last seen Batman on screen. Would this film be the one that would reveal the origins of Batman? To say that this film did that is an understatement. As a film that serves as a point of origin, it is one of the best of its kind, especially for the rapidly growing super hero film. Aside from Batman and Superman, throughout the ’80s and ’90s, the super hero film was practically non-existant. All of a sudden, from 2000 and on, we started to hear about super hero film adaptations coming to the big screen soon. The technology that these directors have now is technology that directors from the past probably wished they had their hands on. But more importantly for the Batman franchise, and for fans everywhere, it was time to reinvent the Bruce Wayne/Batman story as the beginning of more films to come. Perhaps the idea of having a trilogy for this series is something that the cast did not envision, but the fact that it has reached this level is very telling of the brilliance of Nolan as a director, and the legacy of Batman for the comic and film world.

How do you combine the hunger for revenge and the need for justice? This is the dilemma that has always driven the narrative behind Bruce Wayne as a man, and Batman as the hero of Gotham City. The pain of losing your parents right in front you, and having no power to do anything about it is relentlessly tragic. Both that type of pain and anger are enough to drive anyone insane, and push them to limits beyond who they are. It is that realistic approach to this character and this film that makes it such a pleasure to watch. Obviously, it is many steps away from being a true reality in society today given Batman’s abilities as a caped-crusader, and everything else that takes place within the world of Gotham City. There are so many films that take place in New York that it has become the standard for production and filming. Surprisingly, this film does not take place in New York. This is a great indication of how every aspect of a film that Christopher Nolan works on is very important for the film’s success. A film’s setting may be the most overlooked aspect of a film because the whole story takes place within it. It has an ability to add magic, darkness, and substance to any film.

After the release of Batman & Robin, the Batman franchise was basically coming to a very quick end. That is until Nolan began to work on and direct this incredible origin story of Bruce Wayne and Batman. There was the need to reinvent this franchise, and this film succeeds in a very large way. In his his first performance as the dark knight, Christian Bale delivers a strong and memorable performance. If you ever feel compassion for a character, you will feel it for him as you watch this film. Michael Caine brings the warmth and personality to Alfred’s character that was missing from previous films in the franchise. This film also marked the start of a much stronger development of Commissioner Gordon’s character, performed brilliantly by Gary Oldman. Morgan Freeman also begins his work with this film and series as a character that Bruce can trust to help him save Gotham City. As usual, Liam Neeson delivers an incredible performance as a mentor and villain, a role that he shares with Cillian Murphy. They may not be the most well known villains, but their performances demonstrate how big or small, every character and aspect of this film is important for its story telling.  This is the origin film that we have all expected of Batman, and it is a joy to watch!

 

Feb
20

Taken

There are times when you watch films to watch the stars you love in them. But there are also times when the star you love is in the film, and the story is very intriguing. Perhaps few actors like Liam Neeson come to mind when it comes to action films. He is an actor with great range and versatility, but his most recent work has been dedicated to revamping the action genre; and he’s done a great job with it. Starring in other recent action films including The A-Team, Unknown, and earlier this year, The Grey, Neeson has taken the demands for an action hero to a whole new level. While it is essential to display a physically imposing and strong character in these films, Neeson has proven that having great intellect and an emotional side can also add to the impact of the character on the film. When you combine all of those characteristics, the success of the film depends greatly on the performance of that main character because as the audience, you can relate to their pain and suffering, but you can also share the joy of accomplishment. In 2008′s Taken, Neeson delivers another strong and convincing performance to remember.

What are you willing to do when you are pushed to the limit? What are you willing to do when your family is put in danger? While you may very likely place your own life in danger when trying to save those you love, it seems as though there is not enough time to develop a plan. You feel up against the wall because you do not have what the kidnappers want, and you may not have the skills and abilities to battle with one or many of them at the same time to not only save your family, but save your own life as well. It is the worst feeling when your family or loved ones are taken from you, and there is nothing you can do about it at that moment. That is the striking, and long-lasting effect that this film has on you see because it is painful to experience, but it makes Neeson’s heroics that much more appealing and worthy of admiration. It does not seem to matter how experienced or unexperienced you may be in fighting crime, but when you are up against the clock, the pressure is intense, and you simply cannot stop because it may be too late.

There are few films that come to mind where it is the father, and not the mother, who is the most loving one, and the one who would do anything for their children. What makes these films even more memorable is when the father gives up so much knowing that the relationship that he can gain with his children is that much more important. When your family values are at the top of your priorities, this is an easy decision to make. But it is amazing to see how characters in these films will give up their life of the past, or start a whole new life to simply get closer to their children because they never had the opportunity before. When you have a film that touches the hearts of every member of the family, you have one of those rare films that is truly a must-see for the whole family. There are movies that advertise that message all the time, but more often than not, it is not the case. This is a film that teaches you to appreciate the loved ones and family that you have around you. Even if the love and peace may not be there, life is much easier when everyone works together in the name of love.

Some films have a bad habit of dragging out the story, and going on much longer than they should. Those films that do not fall under that category can thank those who were responsible for the film’s writing and screenplay. It is better to have a film that is action-packed, emotionally-appealing, thrilling, and relatively short, compared to a longer film that you wish were shorter. You know you have a great film when you tell yourself, wow, what a movie! Even if you want to see more, that is still a great attribute of a great film. This all has to do with you initial judgements or expectations of movies. Once you have been surprised, and are settled in, the movie does the rest. This is where pace and story also come into play and are either loved or hated depending on the outcome of the final scenes of the movie. At times, it seems like not enough credit is given to the endings of films. The beginning and the end are very key to the film’s success. If the beginning sets the tone, it is up to the ending to determine your final take.

There is a different between action films and action thrillers. Taken inserts itself into the action thriller category with ease and elegance. Once again, Liam Neeson delivers the strong performance that we have grown to love over the years. Joining him are a great supporting cast including Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen who deliver their own great performances. A great action thriller that you will not hesitate to watch again and again. Do not waste another minute, and enjoy this amazing action thriller that is Taken! 

Feb
06

The Grey

Films about survival are great and compelling stories. What is great about them is that it is a broad film genre, but it can be done with so many different angles and story lines. Perhaps the strongest characteristic and appeal of these movies is the courage and adrenaline rush you feel as the characters fight between life and death until the end. It is when we are at our weakest and most vulnerable condition that bravery, intelligence, and will empowers us to do the unthinkable. It is such a devastating physical and internal battle because mentally, these movie characters need and want to fight to survive, but physically, they cannot help but feel like giving up. That is when their physical strength is even more important. So there is nothing like telling a survival story based on the arctic climates of Alaska, where a group of men must survive being hunted by a ferocious pack of wolves.

Many have heard of the saying, expect the unexpected. This could not be more relevant and true than in this film. Obviously there are a range of situations that you can find yourselves in unexpectedly, but imagine having to be in a situation where you must fight for your survival with nothing but your own knowledge and strength, and the help of others. It does not matter if you are in Alaska or in California; the situation does not get any easier because life could be over with an unfortunate misstep. The physical conditions of Alaska just make this battle for survival more complicated than you would expect. You have no choice but to create warmth and heat for yourself before you freeze to death; this is much easier said than done when you think about your mental strength and knowledge of your surroundings. You can look at this as an improvisational act of survival; you may have a plan, but if things go wrong, you have to keep trying new or different things. Giving up in this situation is the worst decision that you can make.

This is a film that easily adds itself to a great list of survival films because its story focuses on the intense and complicated relationship between us humans and the world we live in. Whether we love or hate it at times, the world we live in can be our biggest ally. We cannot afford to take what it offers us for granted. In fact, it is the different changes and challenges that we face on a daily basis that should make us stronger. Perhaps now more than ever, we rely on the timeliness and fast operation of technology. If you find yourself fighting for survival in the middle of nowhere in Alaska, technology virtually becomes useless. This is where you must face your fears with all that you have in you to see tomorrow. Before you think about the promise and bright future of tomorrow, you have to accept the world around you; its blessings and its downfalls. The more you think about it, this is a world that is made for hunters; even if you do not hunt animals for a living. It is a life made for hunters because nothing is personally given to us. When you are born, you are raised, taken care of, and provided for. However, once you have the ability to use your mind to think and reason, it is almost as if you are on your own. If you want something, you must work to earn it or get it. You cannot afford to be relaxed about this because there are others who are also fighting for what you want.

Survival of the fittest. If you think about it, that is the story of our lives. If you find yourself fighting for survival, there are also many battles taking place from within your mind. You are battling nature and the world around you, and your beliefs of the people around you; you are even battling your views of life and death. It is painful to think about falling down a tree or a mountain trying to avoid a man-eating wolf; but it can happen. So the thoughts of what happens to you if and after you fall can consume your mind as well. You are battling animals for the dominant species. Animals possess these physical advantages that are admirable, and have these innate survival skills, but we also have a sense of reason and will that can empower us to do great things. Most importantly, we are battling ourselves to be the fittest that we can be. It is easy to become complacent and accepting of what we have, or have accomplished. There is always room for improvement and growth. In order to be the fittest, you have to use your strengths to overcome your weaknesses.

One of the best visual representations of arctic lands in films, The Grey is a chilling, mesmerizing and powerful survival movie that will hit you hard. Its cast is led by Liam Neeson, who delivers an outstanding performance as the leader of a group of men fighting to survive. Dermot Mulroney and Frank Grillo also deliver great performances in their supporting roles. Wonderfully written, with an amazing story, and visual and sound effects and editing, it is the action survival film that you have been waiting to see for a long time. Do not wait for its release on DVD, and experience the journey on the big screen!